Genetic Testing and Epigenetic Coaching

Epigenetics is defined as “the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work.”

With the understanding of epigenetics, we know that lifestyle factors such as exercise, nutrition, high-quality sleep, practices such as Qi gong, and so on alter the expression of our genes. We can leverage this knowledge with the goal of health and wellness in mind.  This is relevant to everyone, whether you have a medical illness or not.  It is especially impactful prior to conception, for moms and dads.  

The preconception period is a sensitive developmental window in which a variety of exposures such as toxicants, nutrition, drugs, stress, and exercise, affect sperm epigenetics.  In addition, a pregnant woman’s environment and behavior during pregnancy can change the baby’s epigenetics.  Some of these changes may last for decades and potentially increase the child’s risk for certain diseases.

Specifically, through genetic testing, we can gain an understanding of one’s nutritional needs in order to establish a diet according to a person’s genetic blueprint. Taken a step further, we can design a personalized diet with the foods and supplements needed to enhance gene expression, in an effort to promote longevity and vitality.

Each of us is unique. Current nutritional guidelines are based on the review of scientific data but have little to do with your individual genome, lifestyle, metabolism, food preferences, food sensitivities, etc.  The One Size Fits All approach to diet and nutrition does not work.  Different people respond differently to the same dietary inputs. As an example, if we all were to eat a diet containing 80 % fat, many of us would suffer from obesity and heart disease.  However, the Inuit Eskimos have adapted genetically to thrive on that diet and when they move away from it, their health suffers.  

At Surya Medicine, you don’t just get a genetic report and then wonder what to do with the results.  When your results return, we review the genetic data with you and make recommendations. You are invited to continue to work with our nutritionist and medical providers after your results are reviewed.  It is important to observe how you respond to a given approach and adjust the plan based on results.